Bettas were already very popular by the mid-80s. I was born in '76, grew up in the San Fernando Valley, and remember getting my first around 2nd grade, and cont

Bettas were already very popular by the mid-80s. I was born in '76, grew up in the San Fernando Valley, and remember getting my first around 2nd grade, and continued to own a single or a pair until middle school. I recall many other kids did as well - to the point where it felt like a fad of that era, like Chinese jumprope, Rubik's Magic, and Aerobees. Walk into any fish store in the valley back then and there would be a bunch of betta bowls at the front, sold as a package with some food for like $5.